For change to take place in therapy, certain ingredients are
important as are certain sequences which help facilitate the change
process. The 5 As (elements) of therapy
below is sequential in that generally one follows the other, though not
strictly in a linear fashion. The
elements and sequence are also interactive as change in one of the As could
also support or bring about change in the other As.
- Awareness
- Acknowledgement
- Appreciation
- Acceptance
- Action
In therapy, therapists often seek to surface for their clients new awareness or insights. This is often a very important prelude to
change as it offers new possibilities for them to break out of their
stuckness. Previous understanding and
familiar ways of trying to cope and deal with their “problems” are not working
for them anymore and clients feel stuck and helpless. When new awareness and insights are surfaced,
clients typically go “ah-huh” or “now I see”; and generally there is a sense of
relief that there is now light at the end of the tunnel, even though the light
may still be a distance away.
When clients begin to be aware and see things differently, it is
important to help them acknowledge verbally what they have become aware
of. Some typical responses that show
their acknowledgement could be, “I
never knew I have contributed to….” or “I can now see why he/she felt that way
about….” or “If only I knew I would not / have….” etc. In acknowledging what they now are able to
see, clients often find it easier to take responsibility and ownership for
their own past behaviors and reactions.
This allows them to be open to the possibility of internal change.
With acknowledgement come also appreciation,
in terms of seeing the connection between how a problem became a problem and
stayed a problem and therefore what can be done to change that. It is important that appreciating why or how
a problem has remained a problem does not lead to blaming which basically
shifts the responsibility of change to someone else or to the situation as a
way or resolving the problem. Rather,
appreciating the connections between cause and effect in relation to the
problems they are experiencing, would allow clients to be more responsible for
themselves and to be better choice makers in terms of their reactions and
decisions.
Learning to appreciate how things have become the way they are will
make it easier for clients to accept the past without needing it to be
different, even if they did not like it.
Acceptance is another way of
letting go of the need to change people, events and experiences in the
past. It allows for the possibility of
seeing positive lessons learnt in the past that could become their resources
for their future. Instead of continuing
to direct (and waste) their energy and efforts to change their past, it allows
them to refocus their energy to what is possible and positive about their
future.
The above 4 elements and its sequences help clients to come to the
final A. That is to be free to act on their own behalf. It allows them to make more responsible and
better choices for themselves and for their future, instead of being dependent
on others or circumstances (through blaming or being a victim). While new awareness and insights allow
clients to see the light at the end of the tunnel so they do not lose hope, the
latter 4 As essentially help clients to eventually make their way out (by
making the necessary decisions / changes for themselves) of the dark tunnel to
embrace the light and be free. When
therapists consciously guide their clients experientially through the 5 As
(elements) of therapy, change is possible.
Change is a process and also a goal and test of effective therapy. The 5 As (elements) of therapy helps to make
change possible for clients.
©
2006 Warren Tan
